Pedal-lock.



w. H. STEGLICH.

v PEDAL LOCK. APPLICATION FILED JULY 18 \9l6.

Patepted Nov. 21,1916

WITNESSES:

I Amaums WILLIAM H. STEGLICH, OF KING CITY, CALIFORNI A.

PEDAL-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov, 21, 1916.

Application filed July 18, 1916. Serial No. 109,889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. STEG- men, a citizen of the United States, residing at King City, in the county of Monterey and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pedal-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a pedal lock.

The object of the present invention. is to provide a novel form of pedal control for automobiles and like vehicles and particularly a pawl and ratchet attachment where by a pedal may be set or held until released by the operator.

The invention further consists of-the parts and the construction and combination of parts ashereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away, of the clutch and gear case of a Ford car, together with the operating pedals, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view' of the foot board, showing the operating pedals projecting thcrothrough and the pedal locking n'iochanism applied. 1

The invention illustrated in the present instal'ice is shown as applied to a Ford car,

is which A indicates the foot board, 2 the clutch and gear case, 3 the clutch collar, 4: the

forked arm by which it is operated, 5 the and pivotally"mounted between a pair of upwardly tuiknod lugs 12 formed on the plate, is a foot plate 13 on the lower end of which is formed a pawl extension 14-.. This'pawl extension is slightly offset and its lower end is sufliciently extended to permit it-to engage with a. rack bar 15, secured to the foot board on one side of the clutch pedal.

It is well known that the crank shaft of an automobile engine is generally connected with the transmission gears and the rear driving shaft by means of a spring actuated transmission clutch. This clutch is necessarily disengaged whenever it is desired to change the engagement of the gears or when it is desiredto stop the car or allow the englue to run without transmitting power.

This is particularly true of a Ford car. For instance, if it is desired to use the brake pedal 6, it is first necessary to move the clutch pedal 8 to neutral position. It is furthermore necessary to hold the clutch pedal in this position while the brake pedal 1s being used. The neutral position of the clutch pedal is secured more or less by guess work and unless an absolute neutral position is obtained, one of two things is liable to occur. Eith: the clutch disks will have atendency to ,rag or more or less pressure will be appli .d'to the low speed band when the car is coasting or the gear is thrown into reverse. It is furthermore necessary when coasting down a long hill, to constantly keep the foot upon the clutch pedal to hold it in neutral position while the brake is being applied, and it is also necessary to maintain the foot on the clutch pedal when this is pressed forward to bring the low gears into mesh, this being tiresome or tedious, particularly where lots of hill climbing is necessary. The provision of the pawl and ratchet mechanism here shown, eliminates the necessity of constantly mamtainf ing'the foot on the clutch pedal. For instance, ii' coasting down a hill it is only necessary to move the clutch pedal forward until the operator is positive that an absolute neutral position is obtained. The clutch pedal may thenbc; set by rocking the foot plate 13 on its pivot until the pawl 14 engages with the rack. The foot may now be removed and the only attention required will be the operation of the brake pedal. Again, if the car. is climbing a long grade'and the clutch pedal is thrown into the lower gear, it may be similarly locked and set by again depressing the pawl 14 into position where it will engage with the rack bar. It can therefore be seen that the car can be more easily or readily handle? as the clutch pedal when moved into a pre\ eterinined position, may be set and locked against movement. Any dragging of clutch disks or accidental application of the low speed band is in this manner obviated and repairs such as replacement of the brake linings or adjustments thereof, are consequently to a large extent reduced.

The materials and finish ofthe several parts of the invention may be such as the judgment and experience of the manufacturcr may dictate.

I wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of constructien. may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claim, and that I (10 not Wish to limit myself to the specific de sign and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters; Patent YlS-- The eombinaitien with the clutch ectuah pedal ef an automobile, of e supplementel pedal plat-e having side elips adapted te grip the main pedal, and having upturned fulerum'lugs, a second pedal plate super posed above said plate, having down-turned witnesses.

WHJJIAM H. STEGLICH. Witnesses:

OSCAR MeGUnm, E. D. DILLON- 

